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Kilmarnock 2-1 St Johnstone: Armstrong double earns hosts victory

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Armstrong's free-kick was hit with laser accuracy

A Danny Armstrong double handed Kilmarnock victory over St Johnstone despite the threat of a late comeback in the Scottish Premiership.

The winger’s 30-yard free-kick gave Derek McInnes’ side an early lead before his second, a minute into the second half, put the hosts in firm control.

Theo Bair’s late half-volley set up a tense finish at Rugby Park, but it wouldn’t be enough for Callum Davidson’s side who were in search of their second win in a row.

Armstrong’s brace instead secured only a second victory of the season for the Rugby Park outfit, a result which brings Kilmarnock to within three points of their opponents in ninth.

Kilmarnock let their intentions be known early on when Blair Alston got on the end of Armstrong’s knock down, but the midfielder could only blaze wide against his former side.

It wasn’t long before the hosts struck, though. It was a Hollywood hit, bent with unbelievable precision from distance by Armstrong to leave Remi Matthews with no chance.

St Johnstone weren’t far away from an equaliser. Stevie May, superb at the weekend, saw a shot deflect and loop towards Zach Hemming before Ali Crawford and Nicky Clark forced the Killie keeper into good saves.

But the visitors were left to lament their profligacy when Kilmarnock struck immediately after the break.

Alan Power’s shot trundled through to Chris Stokes, who rattled the bar from close range. The ball bounced back to the six-yard line where Armstrong threw himself forward to nod home in front of any clearing St Johnstone defender.

The wizard on the wing almost scored a sublime hat-trick on the hour mark. Receiving on the right-hand touchline, he danced past two players on his way to the edge of the box before curling a delicious strike that shaved the outside of the post.

Bair’s rasping right-foot half-volley set up an uncomfortable few minutes, but the Saints sub’s strike was mere consolation.

Player of the Match – Danny Armstrong

The former Wolves man now has five goals this season, showing his strikers how it should be done.

Astonishing Armstrong makes Killie click – analysis

For the last few weeks, and possibly months, Kilmarnock have been crying out for a creator to provide the strikers with chances.

Armstrong appears the likeliest candidate to do so, but tonight he was more interested in taking the spotlight himself.

A free-kick that Trent Alexander-Arnold would have been proud of, and a poacher’s finish to put most strikers to shame.

St Johnstone did threaten occasionally, but as the game went on that lack of confidence crept back in to their play.

Bair’s late strike was truly out of the blue, but opening his Saints account will give him, and his manager, a boost.

What they said

St Johnstone boss Callum Davidson: “It was a horrendous start [to the second-half] from us, really poor. We didn’t do the basics well, we had chances to clear our lines. Kilmarnock score and then sat in and defended well.

“We didn’t ask enough questions of them and that was the thing that disappointed me most tonight. When you’re chasing a game, you need to be brave.”

What’s next?

Kilmarnock host Hearts on Sunday (15:00 BST), as St Johnstone welcome reigning champions Celtic at McDiarmid Park on Saturday (12:30).

Player of the match

ArmstrongDaniel Armstrong

with an average of 7.41

Kilmarnock

  1. Squad number11Player nameArmstrong

    Average rating

    7.41

  2. Squad number5Player nameTaylor

    Average rating

    6.81

  3. Squad number33Player nameChrisene

    Average rating

    6.71

  4. Squad number4Player namePower

    Average rating

    6.68

  5. Squad number1Player nameHemming

    Average rating

    6.62

  6. Squad number2Player nameMayo

    Average rating

    6.62

  7. Squad number6Player nameStokes

    Average rating

    6.51

  8. Squad number8Player nameAlston

    Average rating

    6.50

  9. Squad number7Player nameMcKenzie

    Average rating

    6.42

  10. Squad number10Player nameJones

    Average rating

    6.35

  11. Squad number26Player nameDoidge

    Average rating

    5.79

  12. Squad number28Player nameLafferty

    Average rating

    5.36

  13. Squad number9Player nameShaw

    Average rating

    5.19

  14. Squad number17Player nameLyons

    Average rating

    5.12

  15. Squad number19Player nameWright

    Average rating

    5.12

St Johnstone

  1. Squad number5Player nameMitchell

    Average rating

    7.30

  2. Squad number7Player nameMay

    Average rating

    5.84

  3. Squad number6Player nameGordon

    Average rating

    5.74

  4. Squad number17Player nameBair

    Average rating

    5.48

  5. Squad number14Player nameWright

    Average rating

    5.47

  6. Squad number1Player nameMatthews

    Average rating

    5.44

  7. Squad number13Player nameMcGowan

    Average rating

    5.35

  8. Squad number37Player nameClark

    Average rating

    5.32

  9. Squad number4Player nameConsidine

    Average rating

    5.21

  10. Squad number22Player nameHallberg

    Average rating

    5.19

  11. Squad number2Player nameBrown

    Average rating

    5.16

  12. Squad number27Player nameKucheriavyi

    Average rating

    5.14

  13. Squad number21Player nameCrawford

    Average rating

    5.09

  14. Squad number29Player nameMurphy

    Average rating

    4.90

  15. Squad number11Player nameO’Halloran

    Average rating

    4.70

  16. Squad number3Player nameGallacher

    Average rating

    4.60

Line-ups

Kilmarnock

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Hemming

2Mayo5Taylor6Stokes33Chrisene

4Power8Alston

11Armstrong7McKenzie10Jones

28Lafferty

  • 1Hemming
  • 2Mayo
  • 5Taylor
  • 6Stokes
  • 33Chrisene
  • 4Power
  • 8AlstonSubstituted forLyonsat 65′minutes
  • 11ArmstrongSubstituted forWrightat 89′minutes
  • 7McKenzie
  • 10JonesSubstituted forShawat 77′minutes
  • 28LaffertySubstituted forDoidgeat 65′minutes

Substitutes

  • 9Shaw
  • 17Lyons
  • 19Wright
  • 20Walker
  • 21McInroy
  • 26Doidge
  • 27Cameron
  • 31Polworth
  • 32Warnock

St Johnstone

Formation 5-3-2

1Matthews

14Wright5Mitchell6Gordon4Considine2Brown

22Hallberg13McGowan21Crawford

7May37Clark

  • 1Matthews
  • 14WrightSubstituted forBairat 72′minutes
  • 5MitchellBooked at 52minsSubstituted forGallacherat 57′minutes
  • 6GordonBooked at 34mins
  • 4Considine
  • 2Brown
  • 22Hallberg
  • 13McGowanBooked at 63minsSubstituted forO’Halloranat 80′minutes
  • 21CrawfordSubstituted forKucheriavyiat 72′minutes
  • 7MaySubstituted forMurphyat 57′minutes
  • 37Clark

Substitutes

  • 3Gallacher
  • 10Wotherspoon
  • 11O’Halloran
  • 12Parish
  • 16Mahon
  • 17Bair
  • 26McLennan
  • 27Kucheriavyi
  • 29Murphy
Referee:
Alan Muir

Attendance:
4,463

Match Stats

Live Text

Post update

Match ends, Kilmarnock 2, St. Johnstone 1.

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